Hey all, I need some welding advice , an I know on here there has to be a few of ya that have done quite a bit more than I. I just got into fabricating my own stuff, and just started welding recently. I've tacked and repaired all throughout my childhood but now that I'm a little older, and out of high school, I can afford the equipment. I've bought myself that Lincoln AC 225 arc welder that's available anywhere and has been around for 1000 years. I'm still learning how to set myself up, and create nice beads around what I'm doing, practice makes perfect I suppose. I've TIG welded a time or two, and actually found that to be the easiest for my hand. My questions to you guys is if anyone has any info on how to set myself up for different types of steel, or stainless and all that, just if there is any general rules of thumb to go by any techniques, what stuff is better than others, I've been looking into thermal dynamics Tig welder, that's what I used prior and liked it). I'm determined to teach myself how to weld the proper and clean way, so I can fab some stuff up for my project truck, and have another useful skill under my belt, cause once you learn something, nobody can take that from ya!

I'll give you some welding advice... Head over to weldingweb.com ;-) Great site. I'm a hobby welder and I bought a Lincoln Precision TIG 225. It's not fast but very versatile. Also has a stick option. I use it in a similar manner as you are planning and have been very happy with it.

yeah man im trying to learn MIG TIG, and getting better at stick welding. im gonna check that site out. as much as i can learn i want to. also, im a plumber, id like to get my cert to be a pipe welder, that can directly benefit me in my field. thanks man.

As a welding teacher by trade, I've worked in different production and job shops as well. You're out of high school now, take the next step: honey take some night classes at your local community college. It's sounds like you are ready to learn what you need to learn from a class like this.

Most college welding instructors are from industry, and many even hold CWI credentials.

Welding is about 5% head knowledge and 95% "hands on". I am a pressure welder/steel fabricator by trade and there is a lot I could teach you by showing you, not by telling you. It's like trying to give you a haircut over the phone. As said above, take a course to learn the basics or get someone at your side to show you. Good luck.

Welding is a fine balance between art and science. Those who have reached a high level have studied and practiced... A lot. Not unlike any other professional career, minus the suit and tie. Tip of the hat to all the welders out there.

There is quite a bit of specialization in welding as a whole. A Lincoln electric AC225 is a very basic welder. It's capable of handling a lot of tasks, but you're limited by the length of your leads and electric cord.. Not to mention personal skill.

I would say for light fabrication jobs you'd be better served by a mid size wire feed welder with a bottle of 75/25 mixed gas. The cool part is that if you have a stainless job, you can switch out gas and run stainless wire. It won't be food grade and may not be the cleanest looking weld, but it would work.

Try to resist the temptation to buy into the popularity of TV shows using a tight welder for everything. The cost of use is considerably higher than the added benefit for most jobs.

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